by Hollis Wynn
When I look up, I can’t find Bella and Ainsley, though I can hear Ainsley wailing. In the melee, Bella headed straight to the closet. I step over the guys on the floor and run to check on her. I see her running down the stairs and my heart goes back into rhythm. I lean in and yell down to her, “Stay there. I’ll be down for you soon.”
Thank god she’s safe and out of harm’s way.
Grant has gone outside and called for help on the sheriff’s radio and now we have to clean up the mess. The boss is going to be pissed, so I’ll leave that up to Ford to call him.
Chapter Thirty-Seven—BellaRose
Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I’d live in a place where there is a shootout in my living room.
When Penn and his guys came in, Kaiser and the sheriff were just distracted enough that I could get Ainsley and run for the closet and safety.
I waited for what felt like forever for Penn to come down, but ended up falling asleep with Ainsley on the bed. I don’t know what time it is when he finally comes down and wakes me up with a light kiss on the lips.
“Are you okay?” he asks me, sitting down on the bed next to me and caressing Ainsley’s head.
“Yeah, we’re fine. What the hell happened up there?”
“Sharpe had a heart attack. Vic thought someone was shooting when he went down, and he opened fire hitting the bodyguard and he was subsequently hit in the gut.”
I open my mouth but don’t know what to say, so I just close it. “Are they dead?” I ask, not sure if I really want to know.
“Yeah. The sheriff died before they got to the hospital and Sharpe was DOA,” Penn tells me.
“Well then . . .” I say.
“Do you want to talk about it?” he asks me and lays down behind me. My back to his front, and he pulls me into him.
“Not right now. Will you just lay here with me for a little while?”
“I’ll stay with you for as long as you’ll have me.” I relax into him and allow sleep to take me.
The next couple of days fly by. The FBI gets involved because of Vic being shot. Add in that it looks as though Penn and Ford were running an unsanctioned op and all we’ve done is answer the same questions over and over.
I’m pretty sure that Penn’s bosses are ready to kick his ass, but thankfully he still has a job. I flop down on the couch, exhausted from telling the story over and over, but I decide that it’s now or never, and call Laken.
“Are you sitting down?” I ask Laken as soon as she answers the phone.
“Seriously, Bella? Last time you asked me that, you called to tell me you were bringing home a baby you found in a trashcan.”
Nervously, I laugh.
“Oh, shit,” she says. “Just tell me.”
“Well, I didn’t find another baby in a trashcan, but I’m going to be keeping Ainsley forever.”
“What?” Laken bellows in my ear, and I pull the phone away from my face.
“So, it goes a little like this . . .” I tell her the whole story of how Kaiser barged in the house and the subsequent deaths that follow.
“This sounds like a plot out of one of those shows on Investigation Discovery, not your life.” She laughs and so do I because she’s not wrong.
“If only it was a television show. I mean, how many people get to say they found out their father is a modern-day drug lord, their mother was kidnapped from a foreign country, and they found a baby in a trash can?”
I prop my legs up on the coffee table and allow my body to sink further into the cushions of the couch. I’m exhausted—mentally, physically, and emotionally.
“Touché,” is her response. After a second, she continues, “So, what happens now?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure. Penn and the guys are going to be dealing with the fall out of this for a while. The FBI is involved because of Vic and I’m going to petition the court to become Ainsley’s guardian since technically I’m her only living relative.”
Everyone I’ve talked to has said that they’d be shocked if the court doesn’t grant me custody, but since I don’t have any documents showing that I’m Kaiser’s only living heir, she could go to someone who’s been waiting to adopt. Hopefully, I can find an attorney who will take my case, so I don’t have to let her go.
“I’ll ask around and see if I can get you a recommendation for a good lawyer,” she tells me and then asks the big question. “So, what’s going to happen with you and Penn?”
“Damn you, Lake!” Ironically, I’m not mad at her, it’s just the one thing I’ve not really thought about during all of this.
“Well then, you better talk to him about it, because I know that man loves you.”
“And I love him too,” I say. “Let’s chat later. I have a man to find.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight—BellaRose
“When do you have to go home to get ready for school?” he asks me.
“Within the next couple days. But I was kind of hoping for a reason not to,” I say honestly.
He doesn’t say anything, instead he rolls over to the other side of the bed and pulls something out of the side table. Sitting up, he holds his hand out to me and pulls me up onto my knees.
“I wanted to cuddle,” I whine, and he laughs.
“We can cuddle after this.”
“BellaRose Rogers, I have never experienced the need to spend every minute with someone. Until you. I couldn’t imagine why my friends wanted to get married other than to have sex whenever they wanted. Until you. Now I want to spend all my days and nights with you and Ainsley. I want to have children with you. Grow old with you. Play with our grandchildren with you.”
A river of emotion runs down my face. There is no reason to stop them because all the words I can’t say, all the emotions that don’t have a name, escape my body in the form of tears.
“I want you to be my forever—my one and only. Will you marry me?” He opens a blue velvet box and my mother’s engagement ring stares back at me.
I cover my face with my hands and sob. He couldn’t have picked anything more perfect for me. For us. Then he pulls my hands away from my face and we lock eyes.
“Yes,” I shout and he covers my mouth with his, because the last thing we want to do is wake Ainsley.
“I have one more thing for you,” Penn says, reaching back to pull an envelope out of the nightstand.
“I know that this has been one of the most difficult summers of your life. You found a baby, learned more about your past than you could have ever imagined, watched a man get gunned down in front of you, and you’re trying to come to terms with who you are. But during all this time, you missed one thing.”
He holds up the large envelope that held my parents’ letters. Until now, I forgot that I never read the one my father wrote to me.
Penn moves until his back hits the headboard and he pulls me to him before opening the envelope and begins reading.
* * *
Dear BellaRose,
When you were born I stared at your beautiful pink face and knew that you would be my forever love. That love differs from what I feel for your mother. She completes me, loves me through the darkest days, and supports me in everything I do. But you, I’d give my life for you—no question.
That’s why this letter is so difficult to write.
When I met your mother, I was on assignment. I’m sure that sounds odd considering you think I’m a banker. But, honey, I’m not. When I was a young man, I was tapped by an organization to protect our country. With my parents dead and not having any other family, I was exactly what they wanted. A man who would be dedicated and not allow anything to get in his way.
I was successful. I moved up in the ranks and I did anything that was asked of me, in the name of freedom. One day, I was working a case on a drug lord, and I met your mother. He referred to her as his “woman” but in reality she was a captive in his dangerous world.
Over the course of time, she realized I wasn’t going to hurt her, and she begged
me to take her away from that life. It wasn’t easy, but I managed to pull it off. When the agency didn’t have plans for what to do with her, I set her up in my house and we fell in love. She’s a wonderful woman and I will continue to do everything I can to keep you both safe.
There may come a time when you question who you are and where you came from—that’s normal. Let me tell you now—I may not be your biological father, but you’re my daughter in every sense of the word.
The only thing your mother and I ever fought about was whether we should tell you the story of how you came to be. She wanted to tell you, and I didn’t want to. No one should have to live through what your mother did before I brought her here. I refused to allow her to put those things in your mind. So, if you’ve met Kaiser Sharpe and he claims to be your father, biologically he is.
However, I’m going to be your father until the end of time because I choose to. I will always love you, my precious Bella.
This letter will serve as a companion to our will. Mr. Kesson, our lawyer, has all the necessary documents for you. He will give you access to the bank accounts and to the safe deposit box. You will inherit everything we have—money, stocks, property—everything.
I know this is probably hard for you to read, but, honey, I need you to know how much I love you. I hope that by the time you read this letter, the danger has passed, and you don’t have to deal with all the things we’ve left behind, but such is life.
Please take care of yourself. Always have a go bag ready and keep yourself safe. Remember, people should have to earn your trust—it’s not just blindly given. One day you’ll find a man who loves you the way I love your mother and she loves me. I hope that this man comes into your life when you’re young enough not to be jaded by the world and live out your days with him.
I love you, my sweet girl.
Love,
Daddy
Epilogue—BellaRose
It’s been one year to the day since I found Ainsley. Three hundred and sixty-five insane days and I’m standing here now, with my tiny princess in a gown fit for a queen ready to walk down the aisle to the one I love.
Sunnyville is a quaint town, much like Miller Creek, and I love it. It’s nice to be here where Penn’s family is from and celebrate with those who love him and had a hand in making him the man he is today.
“Thank you for doing this, Callan. I know we’re not family, but you’re the closest to a brother I’ll ever have.”
“You’re welcome, Bella. We’ve known each other a long time and I would do anything to see Laken happy. You’re part of our family and when you’re happy, she’s happy.”
I lean over and give him a hug. I refuse to cry because I’m not going to mess up my makeup before I walk down the aisle.
We take our places at the entrance to the church, and the wedding march begins to play. “Are you ready?” he asks me.
“It’s now or never and we’re here,” I say, laughing. Ainsley giggles as I tickle her. “Are you ready, my girl?” Her giggles get louder as the doors open. Callan takes my arm and walks me down to my waiting king.
I’m wearing a classic lace sheath dress with my hair pinned up. I opted not to carry flowers because I wanted to carry Ainsley, and I knew I couldn’t do both. Penn steps forward and smiles at us. Ainsley sees him and lets out a shriek and squirms to be let down. Callan stops and takes her from my arms and places her on the soft carpet and the whole church watches her run to Penn screaming “Daaaaaaa.”
He picks her up and throws her into the air and everyone sighs at the same time. He really is amazing.
Laken stands to the left and Grant to the right. They are our closest friends and it’s only appropriate for them to stand up with us as we commit our love to each other.
When Lake and I were young, I wasn’t the one who had my whole life planned out like she did. Don’t get me wrong, I always wanted to get married but I couldn’t imagine it clearly until Penn walked into my life and saved me.
He’s my other half, the one who completes me. Yes, it sounds silly, but it’s true.
He’s calm and kind when I’m anxious and over the top.
He loves Ainsley like she is his own.
He knows my love language is cinnamon buns.
He accepts that I’m always going to have a house filled with books.
He’s my everything—and today, we make it official.
Stopping at the top of the aisle, he walks to me, taking my arm and whispering, “I love you.”
“Today and forever,” I say. “Today and forever.”
Because we wanted an intimate wedding, we didn’t want a long service and opted for traditional vows.
“You may kiss the bride,” the minister says.
We lock lips, with Ainsley squished between us, and the crowd claps. We step apart and I nod to the minister who pulls a piece of paper out of his bible.
“Bella and Penn have opted to share one more thing with you today,” the minister says. Laken comes up and holds her hands out for Ainsley, who willingly goes to her aunt.
We turn toward the pews, where those we love sit. Penn takes my hand and pulls it to his lips and smiles. I asked him to be the one to speak because I knew I wouldn’t make it without sobbing.
“Today we celebrate our marriage, and . . .” He pauses and wipes a tear from his eye. “Today, Ainsley officially becomes Ainsley Rose James.”
“Thank you for being a part of this wonderful day,” I manage to say without sobbing. “Now let’s party.”
* * *
Pennington
* * *
The last year has flown by. When Gramps died and I inherited his house, there was no way I could see into the future and know that I’d take down one of the FBI’s most wanted criminals and a small-town sheriff in the same night. I also couldn’t have imagined falling in love with a woman who rescued a baby from a garbage can—but all those things happened in the same summer.
We decided that living at Lake Rosemary would be the perfect start to our lives together. It’s where Bella has the best memories of her parents and it’s where we put her past to bed. Now we are going to live in Gramps’s house and use hers as a place for friends and family to stay when they come to visit.
Money will never be an issue for Bella. After Kaiser died, we took all the documents her parents left for her to Kesson, who was Gramps’s attorney too. He gave Bella the keys to the safe deposit box where she found all the information related to her parents’ accounts. There were millions hidden in offshore accounts just for Bella, though you’d never know it. She hasn’t touched the money and said she will use it for Ainsley to go to college or something. The money is hers to do with what she wishes when the time is right.
Ford comes over to where I’m standing watching my beautiful bride dancing with Ainsley.
“Thanks for inviting me. Sorry I missed the ceremony. Damn flight was late.” He raises the beer he’s holding and gives me a little “cheers.”
“Don’t worry about it. This is the best part of the actual wedding,” I say, my eyes not leaving Bella.
Ford doesn’t say anything for a couple moments, just watches me watching my girls. Laken and Liberty walk up to where Bella and Ainsley are dancing, and I watch them spin their girls around and laughing. There is nothing that could make me happier than Bella having someone like Laken support her.
I look over at Ford, and his mouth is hanging open. “Fallon?” It’s a question, but I have no idea who he’s talking to.
“Fallon?” he says again and then walks to where Bella and Laken are dancing with the girls. I follow him and Laken turns around this time.
“I’m sorry. I thought you were someone else.” Ford looks like he’s seen a ghost as he stands there staring at Laken, but I don’t have time to give him the third degree. We’ll save that for another time.
Then Laken says the unexpected, “I’m Laken. Fallon is my sister.”
THE END
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Playlist
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3gLXlr5
•Lips of an Angel - Hinder
•Bed of Lies - Matchbox Twenty
•Notbroken - Goo Goo Dolls
•How to Save a Life - The Fray
•I Hate Everything About You - Three Days Grace
•It Ends Tonight - All American Rejects
•Picture (feat. Sheryl Crow) - Kid Rock
•All Over You - Live
•Water Runs Dry - Boyz II Men
•Where Have You Been - Rihanna
•Wild Child (with Grace Potter) - Kenny Chesney
•As You Are - Daughtry
•Alive - Daughtry
•Issues - Julia Michaels
Also by Hollis Wynn
A Love’s Complicated Series - Bent
https://www.holliswynn.com/bent
Carrigan Castle may be broken but she’s finally free. Free of the bonds holding her back. Free of her painful past. Free just to be. With the death of her mother, it’s time to leave her small town behind and find her own way—even if it means letting go of her ideals.
